To feel completely overlooked and demoralised

[Iseverythingrosie]

Without being too outing my manager is leaving, I've done an unofficial senior role for 4 years to do all the things my manager does when she is on annual leave or sick leave as well as supporting the team with training and development above and beyond my job description. I've received nothing but positive feedback from clients and colleagues during this time and been recognised for my contributions up until now.

My managers line manager has decided while considering the next steps to request another manager take over the management in the interim despite zero experience in our department. I have been asked to take on a proportion of the this role as the new interim manager is missing a qualification to do part of the role which I do have.

I can't decide if I'm being unreasonable to feel completely overlooked to manage the team in the interim and feel like I'm being used to fill a knowledge/ qualification gap only. The reasoning given is 'resourcing' and I expect to eventually be restructured under the interim manager in the long term. It's made me feel utterly miserable.

Any thoughts welcome as I have no-one to talk this through in real life.

It's my understanding that in UK employment law they are well within their rights to just appoint someone or promote without process if there isn't a written process at the company - which there is not.

Yes it does seem like a headcount situation but there is also an element to the current managers role which is regulatory and cannot be done without the appropriate qualification which the interim manager does not have but I do.

when I do decide to move on.

The biggest mistake you will make is not preparing to move on now.

Once you've put your case and they say no, get started.

In six months you could find yourself applying for your own job if they have a restructure, then you'llreally be on the back foot. So you may as well be interviewing elsewhere.

I am surprised ! But am definitely not an employment lawyer but pointing out it's sensible at least to consider all options would at least make them think.

Agree totally and I would do this.

I really feel for you OP management are treating you very badly. However there’s one thing I learnt in the toxic world of work NO ONE IS UNREPLACEABLE . If you can afford it and there’s a good chance of finding another job quickly I would just hand in my notice now, no more asking them to be interim manager. Head up (and 2 fingers!) no crawling allowed. Good luck.

Covering for your manager when she’s on leave isn’t the same thing as actually doing the job. Caveat that if she’s been off for 6 months at a time, but apart from that, no.

There are two ways to look at this - firstly, they could just want someone to cover while they sort themselves out/restructure. This person may not be the long-term solution, and they may be expecting applications from within the team in the long run, but they just want a stop-gap solution for right now. The fact the interim manager lacks a specific qualification would give weight to this theory.

The other possibility is that they’ve written you off for some reason - no one here knows what that reason is or whether it’s fair or not. If you think that’s the case then I would start looking for a new job. But the way to find out is to do as advised upthread and ask whether you would be considered for the role in future. If they’ve already said you can’t be considered as they need your skills where you are, it’s not a good sign, I’m afraid.

Solidarity OP. I was in the same situation 5 years ago.
I was not considered for a promotion but had to fully train the new person because i was 'so amazing'.
I was underpaid by about 7% below the bottom bracket of my pay grade, they brought her in on 40% over the max pay for the grade. It was unbelievable, I don't know how they thought I would be OK with it.
I was praised everyday by all senior management, they literally used to gush over me but they wanted me doing the job I was doing.
About a week after they started I went on the sick, full paid for 6 months then left and set up my own business working a lot less hours and more money. Still can't beleive the situation 5 years later but such is life. Good luck x

Sorry to hear you've been in the same situation. I have considered self employment as the role I do can be done in this way and earnings can far exceed the managerial pay grade let alone mg current grade. I'm just not quite able to given my personal/ home life situation.

It's great to hear you've come out on top! How did you get the confidence to go self employed?

I wish I were in a position to hand my notice in and not have to continue after they've made it clear what they think and have already made the decision. Looks like I'll have to suck it up at least until I find something else.

I absolutely understand where you are coming from. But, as there have been multiple mentions of my contributions to the team and taking on extra responsibility to date and an absolutely flawless record and praise from management and senior management. I cannot understand the logic of training someone from scratch for an interim role when they have zero experience in this department rather than offer it to someone who does. An analogy would be that our team plays cricket and the interim manager plays football and has never even tried cricket 😆

It was getting to a point of needing to for my own sanity. I was so overworked. I covered HR for 13 countries and had learned the employment law for each country which I think it's why they needed me in my role, if I moved up I would be stepping away from the day to day running of it all.

My husband was in secure employment and we have relatively low outgoings so it made it easier. I had about 10k saved up incase I needed to supplement my income but I didn't need it.
I hope you get sorted, there's so many organisations that don't think about the effects on people when they make these decisions. You just have to do what is right for you. X

https://youtube.com/shorts/Ixy5nl-k56M?si=BGICvk7ZVPZtUbCf

Brilliant YT channel - Veronica is the woman we all need to be at work. This scenario might resonate, OP! Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Sounds like it's been the right move for you and glad that it's improved your wellbeing.

It definitely feels like a crossroad moment.

Crucial that you get your reference from your leaving line manager.

They intend to use you and don't care a whit for your progression.

Take the advice sbove, decline to be used and start job hunting.

Go out sick for a few weeks, regular illness, not stress, to drive the point home as you job hunt.

This is just what I needed to see! Thank you!!

Yes get a nice reference from the manager who is leaving, (can u take her out for a drink and chat over it all. But above all, not telling anyone necessarily til you got your nice reference, you can also write 'acting interim manager with dates or whatever that is just fact.) . Then I honestly think you should prefer your resignation without giving any reason just something vague like needing to regroup and or focus on your hobbies. They are possibly wanting this I've just realised you need a union representative ,-this could be constructive dismissal.

Absolutely no issues with a reference from my current manager.

I wouldn't have the first idea about unions or how this could be constructive dismissal.

Transport and general workers, there's a union for every mode of work. Constructive dismissal is very unpleasant but quite prevalent, financially driven mostly. It is basically when a boss creates exactly the reaction you've got, then acts all surprised when you quit your job. They've constructed a situation in which you leave them, so they've dismissed you without dismissing you (where dismissed equals fired). I expect you've googled it by now. It's very easy to pursue, or for your union representative to pursue on your behalf I should say. Just join a union and speak to a representative, it's very psychologically supportive and you don't have to do what they advise (I didn't. To my regret!).

You need to work a bit in about not being suitable for the position, so you can't be a suitable person to train the person who did get the position!

Have you discussed this with your current manager?

Wouldn't you have expected her to already have put you forward as her replacement?

Agreed

They have. Her line manager has made the decision to appoint an interim from an entirety different department as that manager has the resource but not the qualification to do part of the role so they want me to on an interim basis.

I think this is good advice 🙂

Exactly this but my current manager is training the interim manager before she leaves.